Device for checking blood pressure

ABSTRACT

A device for checking blood pressure, comprising an inflatable hollow band adapted to encircle a limb and having pump means connected to said band for inflating said band. A first pressure relief valve is provided on the band and is adapted to relieve pressure at a first predetermined pressure, an on-off valve is associated with the first pressure relief valve for disabling said first pressure relief valve. A second pressure relief valve is associated with the hollow band and set for relieving the pressure of the band at a higher setting than the first pressure relief valve such that, the blood pressure may be checked by actuating said pump means until the pulse of the person being checked is interrupted in said limb or until the first pressure relief valve operates to relieve the pressure, thereafter actuating the on-off valve if the first pressure relief valve has been actuated to disable the pressure relief valve and continuing the application of pressure until the pulse of the individual is interrupted or the second pressure relief valve is actuated indicating a more serious condition of blood pressure.

United States Patent [1 1 Archambault Dec. 30, 1975 [54] DEVICE FORCHECKING BLOOD PRESSURE [76] lnventor: Rene F. Archambault, 35550Michigan Ave., Wayne, Mich. 48184 [22] Filed: Dec. 16, 1974 [21] Appl.No.: 533,297

[52] U.S. Cl l28/2.05 C; 128/205 G; 128/327 [51] Int. Cl. A61B 5/02 [58]Field of Search..... 128/205 C, 2.05 G, 2.05 A,

128/205 M, 2.05 O, 2.05-R, 2.05 V, 327,

Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-Lee S. CohenAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Barnes, Kisselle, Raisch & Choate [57] ABSTRACTA device for checking blood pressure, comprising an inflatable hollowband adapted to encircle a limb and having pump means connected to saidband for inflating said band. A first pressure relief valve is providedon the band and is adapted to relieve pressure at a first predeterminedpressure, an on-off valve is associated with the first pressure reliefvalve for disabling said first pressure relief valve. A second pressurerelief valve is associated with the hollow band and set for relievingthe pressure of the band at a higher setting than the first pressurerelief valve such that, the blood pressure may be checked by actuatingsaid pump means until the pulse of the person being checked isinterrupted in said limb or until the first pressure relief valveoperates to relieve the pressure, thereafter actuating the on-off valveif the first pressure relief valve has been actuated to disable thepressure relief valve and continuing the application of pressure untilthe pulse of the individual is interrupted or the second pressure reliefvalve is actuated indicating a more serious condition of blood pressure.

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures This invention relate's to devices forchecking blood pressure and particularly to a device which can beutilized by an individual for checking his own blood pressure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In checkingblood pressure, it iscommon toutilize a device which comprises a' band that is wrapped around the'limband has a pump and guage associated therewith. The physician or nursechecking the blood pressure manipulates the pressure whilesimultaneously checking the pulse to determine the pressure at which thepulse is stopped. Such a device is complex and difficult to use.Accordingly, it is not practical for use by individuals for'che'ckingtheir own 'blood pressure.

Accordingly, among the objects of the invention are to provide a devicewhich can be readily manipulated by an individual and which willindicate to the individual when he has'a moderate or severejcaseof highblood pressure. i i i H b SUMMARY OF'TI-IE INVENTION The device forchecking blood pressureembodying the invention comprises an inflatablehollow band adapted to encircle a li'mb and pump means connected to saidband for inflating'saidband. Aifirst pressure relief valve is associatedwiththe band and is adapted to relieve pressure at a'.first.predetermined pressure, and an on-off valve is-associated with thefirstpressure relief valve for disabling the first pressure'relief valve. Asecond pressure relief valvle is associated with the hollowband andsetforrelieving the pressure of the" band at a higher setting than thefirst pressure relief valve such that, .the blood pressurev may bechecked by actuating the pump means until 'the pulse of the person beingchecked is interrupted insaid limb or until the first pressure reliefvalve operates torelieve 'the pressure, thereafter actuating the on-offvalveif the first pressure relief valve has been actuated to disablesaid pressure relief valve and continuing the application of pressureuntil the pulse of the individual is interrupted or the second pressurerelief valve is actuated indicating a more serious condition of bloodpressure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing thedevice embodying the invention in use.

FIG. 2 is a partly schematic view of the device.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIG.3.

DESCRIPTION sdth'at pumped into the tube will not escape back throughthe pump. A first pressure relief valve 15 set to relieveai'r in 'thetube 12 at a 'predetermined pressure, 'for example lbs., isassociatedwith the tube. In

addition an on-off valve 16 is provided which will disable the pressurerelief'valve 15. A second pressure relief valve 17 is'also associatedwith'the tube and is set to relieve the pressure at a higher pressurethan valve 15, on the order to I09 lbs.

A typical pressure relief valve 15 and disabling on-off valve, 16 isshown in FIG. 5 and comprises a spring loaded ball 18 thatis'normally'urged against a seat 18a. When the pressure exceeds thesetting of the spring, the air in the tube 10 is relieved. The valveincludes a cap 19 which can be screwed downwardly to engage the ball anddisable the pressure relief valve.

For convenience of the user. valves l5, 17 may have identifyingindiciathereon such as different colors. In the event that it is desiredto quickly dissipate the pressure in the band .10, a manually operatedvent valve may be associated with the band either directly or on thetube 12, as is conventional with the usual devices for checking bloodpressure.

The invention can be more readily understood by reference to the'diagrammatic showing in FIG. 2. A person decidingtocheck his bloodpressure applies the band 10 to a limb such as an arm and begins theapplication of pressure bymanipulating the pump 13. Simultaneously, theperson keeps checking his pulse. If the pulse stops before the pressurerelief valve 15 relieves the pressure, his blood pressure is normal. Ifhowever the pressure relief valve 15 relieves the pressure before thepulse is stopped, then the person knows that his blood pressure ishigher than normal. The person then manipulates the disabling device 16thereby cutting off the pressure relief valve 15 and continues thepumping. As the pressure increases he continues to monitor his pulseand": if the pulse stops then he knows that his pressure is'somewhatover the setting of the valve 15 but less than that of the valve 17.However, if the pulse continues until the pressure relief valve 17 isactuated to relieve'the pressure, then the person knows that his bloodpressure is quite high and should seek medical assistance immediately.

It can thus be seen that there has been provided a device for checkingblood pressure which can be manipulated by an individual simply withoutexcessive skill and which will indicate to the individual whether he hasa moderate or severe case of blood pressure.

I claim:

1. In a device for checking blood pressure, the combination comprisingan inflatable hollow band adapted to encircle a limb,

pump means connected to said band for inflating said band,

a first pressure relief valve on said band and set to relieve pressureat a first predetermined pressure,

on-off valve means associated with said first pressure relief valve fordisabling said first pressure relief valve,

a second pressure relief valve associated with said hollow band and setfor relieving the pressure of said band at a higher setting than saidfirst pressure relief valve such that, the blood pressure may be checkedby actuating said pump means until the pulse of the person being checkedis interrupted in said limb or until the first pressure relief valveoperates to relieve the pressure, thereafter actuating said on-off valvemeans if said first pressure relief valve has been actuated to disablesaid first pressure relief valve and continuing the application ofpressure until the pulse of the individual is interrupted or the secondpressure relief valve is actuated indicating a more serious condition ofblood pressure.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said device includes aone-way valve associated with said.

pump means.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said pump means ismanually operable.

4. The combination set forth in claim I wherein said first pressurerelief valve is set for relief at 150 lbs. pressure and said secondpressure relief valve is set for relief at 190 lbs. pressure.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said on-off valve meanscomprises an on-off valve associated with said first pressure reliefvalve.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 including indicia meansassociated with each said pressure relief valve to distinguish saidpressure relief valves.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said indicia meanscomprises first and second colors.

8. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said band comprises agenerally rectangular band comprising spaced layers defining a hollowspace therebetween,

opposed edges on said band having means thereon for joining said edgesto provide the hollow band encircling the limb.

9. In a device for checking blood pressure, the combination comprisingan inflatable hollow band adapted to encircle a limb,

manually operable pump means connected to said band for inflating saidband,

a one-way valve associated with said pump means,

a first pressure relief valve on said band and set to relieve pressureat a first predetermined pressure,

on-off valve means associated with said first pressure relief valve fordisabling said first pressure relief valve,

second pressure valve associated with said hollow band and set forrelieving the pressure of said band at a higher setting than said firstpressure relief valve such that, the blood pressure may be checked byactuating said pump means until the pulse of the person being checked isinterrupted in said limb or until the first pressure relief valveoperates to relieve the pressure, thereafter actuating said on-off valvemeans if said first pressure relief valve has been actuated to disablesaid first pressure relief valve and continuing the application ofpressure until the pulse of the individual is interrupted or the secondpressure relief valve is actuated indicating a more serious condition ofblood pressure.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said first pressurerelief valve is set for relief at lbs. pressure and said second pressurerelief valve is set for relief at lbs. pressure.

11. In a method of checking blood pressure by utilizing an inflatablehollow band adapted to encircle a limb, pump means connected to saidband for'inflating said band, a first pressure relief valve on said bandand set to relieve pressure at a first predetermined pressure, on-offvalve means associated with said first pressure relief valve, fordisabling said first pressure relief valve, a second pressure reliefvalve associated with said hollow band and set for relieving thepressure of said band at a higher setting than said first pressurerelief valve such that the steps comprise encircling a persons limb withsaid hollow band, actuating said pump means until the pulse of theperson being checked is interrupted in said limb or until the firstpressure relief valve operates to relieve the pressure, thereafteractuating said on-off valve means if said first pressure relief valvehas been actuated to disable said first pressure relief valve andcontinuing the application of pressure until the pulse of the individualis interrupted or the second pressure relief valve is actuatedindicating a more serious condition of blood pressure.

1. In a device for checking blood pressure, the combination comprisingan inflatable hollow band adapted to encircle a limb, pump meansconnected to said band for inflating said band, a first pressure reliefvalve on said band and set to relieve pressure at a first predeterminedpressure, on-off valve means associated with said first pressure reliefvalve for disabling said first pressure relief valve, a second pressurerelief valve associated with said hollow band and set for relieving thepressure of said band at a higher setting than said first pressurerelief valve such that, the blood pressure may be checked by actuatingsaid pump means until the pulse of the person being checked isinterrupted in said limb or until the first pressure relief valveoperates to relieve the pressure, thereafter actuating said on-off valvemeans if said first pressure relief valve has been actuated to disablesaid first pressure relief valve and continuing the application ofpressure until the pulse of the individual is interrupted or the secondpressure relief valve is actuated indicating a more serious condition ofblood pressure.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein saiddevice includes a one-way valve associated with said pump means.
 3. Thecombination set forth in claim 1 wherein said pump means is manuallyoperable.
 4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said firstpressure relief valve is set for relief at 150 lbs. pressure and saidsecond pressure relief valve is set for relief at 190 lbs. pressure. 5.The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said on-off valve meanscomprises an on-off valve associated with said first pressure reliefvalve.
 6. The combination set forth in claim 1 including indicia meansassociated with each said pressure relief valve to distinguish saidpressure relief valves.
 7. The combination set forth in claim 6 whereinsaid indicia means comprises first and second colors.
 8. The combinationset forth in claim 1 wherein said band comprises a generally rectangularband comprising spaced layers defining a hollow space therebetween,opposed edges on said band having means thereon for joining said edgesto provide the hollow band encircling the limb.
 9. In a device forchecking blood pressure, the combination comprising an inflatable hollowband adapted to encircle a limb, manually operable pump means connectedto said band for inflating said band, a one-way valve associated withsaid pump means, a first pressure relief valve on said band and set torelieve pressure at a first predetermined pressure, on-off valve meansassociated with said first pressure relief valve for disabling saidfirst pressure relief valve, a second pressure valve associated withsaid hollow band and set for relieving the pressure of said band at ahigher setting than said first pressure relief valve such that, theblood pressure may be checked by actuating said pump means until thepulse of the person being checked is interrupted in said limb or untilthe first pressure relief valve operates to relieve the pressure,thereafter actuating said on-off valve means if said first pressurerelief valve has been actuated to disable said first pressure reliefvalve and continuing the application of pressure until the pulse of theindividual is interrupted or the second pressure relief valve isactuated indicating a more serious condition of blood pressure.
 10. Thecombination set forth in claim 9 wherein said first pressure reliefvalve is set for relief at 150 lbs. pressure and said second pressurerelief valve is set for relief at 190 lbs. pressure.
 11. In a method ofchecking blood pressure by utilizing an inflatable hollow band adaptedto encircle a limb, pump means connected to said band for inflating saidband, a first pressure relief valve on said band and set to relievepressure at a first predetermined pressure, on-off valve meansassociated with said first pressure relief valve, for disabling saidfirst pressure relief valve, a second pressure relief valve associatedwith said hollow band and set for relieving the pressure of said band ata higher setting than said first pressure relief valve such that thesteps comprise encircling a person''s limb with said hollow band,actuating said pump means until the pulse of the person being checked isinterrupted in said limb or until the first pressure relief valveoperates to relieve the pressure, thereafter actuating said on-off valvemeans if said first pressure relief valve has been actuated to disablesaid first pressure relief valve and continuing the aPplication ofpressure until the pulse of the individual is interrupted or the secondpressure relief valve is actuated indicating a more serious condition ofblood pressure.